Oct. 1-3
The Construction Has Stopped and It’s Time to Shop
CLINTON — The Construction Has Stopped and It’s Time to Shop will continue through Friday. The event is a citywide promotion to celebrate the completion of the U.S. 65 road-construction project with prize drawings and sales. Customers can register to win prizes at participating businesses in the city of Clinton. This week of promotions and sales will conclude with prize drawings at the eighth annual Chili King Cook-off on Saturday in historic downtown Clinton.
Oct. 2
Community Connections in Conway
CONWAY — Arkansas Rehabilitation Services, a division of the Arkansas Department of Career Education, will host Community Connections from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at ARS’s Conway field office, 1150 Museum Road, Suite 3. The free event will offer information on ARS’s services for people with disabilities, including leading clients to their desired career fields and providing them with the tools they need to function independently. The event will feature ARS Commissioner Alan McClain, along with clients and vendors who will share their experiences in utilizing ARS. The event also celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. For more information about ACE and other programs, visit www.ace.arkansas.gov, or follow ACE on Twitter at @ARCareerEd.
Maumelle Newcomers Coffee
MAUMELLE — A Maumelle Newcomers coffee will be held at 10 a.m. at the Maumelle Community Center. All women in the community are invited. For more information, call Pat Matthews at (501) 803-0225.
Human Rights Celebration
CONWAY — Church Women United of Faulkner County will hold a Human Rights Celebration at 10 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 1610 Prince St. The theme for the celebration is “Companions on a Journey.” This year, an award will be given posthumously to Gail Kirkland, who went the extra mile in defending the rights and freedoms of individuals. The public is invited. For more information, contact E.J. Huggins at grahuggies2008@yahoo.com.
Oct. 2 and 3
Fall Book Sale
CONWAY — The Friends of Faulkner County Libraries request book donations for the Friends’ fall book sale, to be held for Friends members from 6-8:30 p.m. Friday and for the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the main library, 1900 Tyler St. Friends Memberships will be available for purchase at Friday’s sale. Hardback books will be sold for 50 cents per pound, and paperback books for 25 cents each. Special tables will hold paperback books to be sold for $3 per bag. Special bargains will be available on Saturday. Books may be brought to the main library at 1900 Tyler St. Proceeds from the sale will fund projects at the county’s libraries. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482.
Oct. 3
Benefit Yard Sale
VILONIA — A benefit yard sale will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 1206 Main St. Antique cars will also be on display. Proceeds will help defray the costs of a stem-cell transplant for church member Dawn Louden of Conway, who has multiple sclerosis.
Governor’s Dislocated Workers Task Force Mobile Unit
MORRILTON — The Governor’s Dislocated Workers Task Force Mobile Unit will be at the University of Arkansas Community College in Morrilton from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as part of the Workforce Strong Manufacturing Day. This free event is open to the community and will offer a complementary lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs. No reservations are necessary. Workforce Strong in Central Arkansas is designed for junior and senior high school students, as well as underemployed and unemployed adults. The event offers opportunities to explore the school’s technical areas, meet instructors, see the equipment used in the hands-on labs and speak with possible future employers. For more information, call the UACCM Office of Workforce Development at (501) 977-2189.
Sacred Heart School’s Octoberfest
MORRILTON — Sacred Heart Catholic School will host Octoberfest, beginning with a bake sale at 4 p.m. An all-you-can-eat turkey-and-dressing dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 5-8 p.m. The event will include games for all ages and a silent auction until 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12. Kids 3 and younger may eat free. Carryout meals will be available from 4-5:30 p.m. and may be ordered by calling (501) 354-4416. All proceeds from Octoberfest will benefit the school.
Susan G. Komen Foundation Fundraiser
HEBER SPRINGS — American Legion Post 64 will hold a fundraiser to honor Molly Somers and Team Earth Angels from 3 p.m. to midnight at the post, 49 Park Road. The fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation will include pool and horseshoe tournaments, a poker run from 12:30-3:30 p.m., 50/50 drawings, a silent auction, door prizes and musical entertainment by Charlotte Taylor and Gypsy Rain. All proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Team Earth Angels. For more information, such as the sign-in deadline for the poker run, call (501) 270-9639, (501) 365-6785 or (501) 765-7428.
Oct. 4
Blessing of the Animals
CONWAY — The youth choirs of Conway First United Methodist Church will host a Blessing of the Animals service at 5 p.m. in the church parking lot. Family pets must be on a leash or in a cage or carrier, and be well-managed. The public is welcome to attend, with or without pets. The church is at 1610 Prince St., at the corner of Clifton and Prince streets. For more information, call the church office at (501) 329-3801 or visit www.conwayfumc.org.
Church Anniversary Celebration
PERRYVILLE — Perryville United Methodist Church, 123 Cross St., will celebrate 170 years of service to God and the community, beginning with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., followed by a worship service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Beth Perdue will lead the service, and the Rev. Richard Lancaster of Little Rock, the Central District superintendent, will present a special message. Former pastors and former members will share their experiences at Perryvile UMC during the worship service and during the afternoon celebration service in the Connection Center. A potluck meal will be served in the center following worship. The community is invited to attend the festivities.
Oct. 6
Mariachi America Concert
MORRILTON — In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton will present the Mariachi America band in concert from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the UACCM Student Union on the west side of the Kirk Building. Admission is free for this family event, which aims to bring awareness and celebration to the heritage and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans around the world. Booths will be set up to share information about UACCM programs and services, including Admissions, the Financial Aid Office, the Adult Education ESL (English as a Second Language) program, Career Pathways, the nursing department and the art department.
The Cantrells Concert
CONWAY — The Cantrells will perform their original folk and bluegrass music at 7 p.m. at the Faulkner County Library. The duo features Emily Cantrell’s songs and rhythm guitar, and Al Cantrell’s contest-winning fiddling in traditional, swing and Irish style. The Cantrells have recorded four CDs of mostly original songs. Refreshments will be served. All library programs are free and open to the public. To hear the duo’s latest single, “Goodbye Cool World,” visit thecantrells.bandcamp.com. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482, email nancy@fcl.org, or visit Facebook or Twitter.
Arkansas Archeological Society Meeting
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas River Valley Chapter of the Arkansas Archeological Society will meet at 7 p.m. at the Arkansas Tech Museum in the Techionery Building at Arkansas Tech University, 1502 N. El Paso Ave. Jodi Barnes, station archaeologist for the Arkansas Archeological Survey, will give a presentation titled Nails, Tacks and Hinges: The Construction of a World War II Prisoner of War Camp in Southeast Arkansas. Chapter meetings are free and open to anyone interested in archaeology or Arkansas history. The chapter usually meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month. For more information, contact Beahm at ebeahm@uawri.org or (501) 727-6250.
Harry Potter Celebration
MORRILTON — The Conway County Library, 101 W. Church St., will have an all-day celebration to mark the release of the illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Participants can sample butterbeer lattes and Hagrid’s rock cakes in the morning, and Polyjuice punch and butterbeer cookies in the afternoon. There will be drawings for two copies of the book, one for youth and one for adults. For more information, call the library at (501) 354-5204, visit www2.youseemore.com/conwaycl, or go to the library’s Facebook page.
Oct. 7
First Wednesday Ladies’ Lunch Break
CONWAY — The First Wednesday Ladies’ Lunch Break will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in Second Baptist Church’s Fellowship Hall at Dave Ward Drive and Farris Road. Enter the church from Farris Road. Women of all ages are invited to attend. Lunch, for $5, includes a drink and dessert. Child care is available at no charge with advance registration by calling (501) 327-4066 or (501) 730-4106.
ONGOING
A Starry, Starry Night at the Library
CONWAY — Kaye R. Clanton, a retired teacher of sciences from the Conway School District, will present a series of star-gazing events with various topics from 7-8 p.m. during the autumn months at the Faulkner County Library. Oct. 19’s topics will include Orionid Meteor Shower; and Meteors, Meteorites, Meteoroids and Asterisms. Nov 16’s program will feature Leonid Meteor Shower; Moon phases; and more. Dec. 14’s event will include Geminid Meteor Shower; Winter Solstice; and Comets, Andromeda Galaxy and Milky Way Galaxy. For more information, call the library at (501) 327-7482 or email nancy@fcl.org.
Friends of the Library Book Shop
HEBER SPRINGS — The Friends of the Library Book Shop, 2255 Arkansas 25B N., is open from 3:30-7 p.m. Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. The shop offers a large selection of books at bargain prices. All proceeds from book sales benefit the libraries in Cleburne County.
Cherokee Bingo
CONWAY — Cherokee Bingo begins at 6:15 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday at Helton’s Wrecker Service/U-Haul, 710 S. Harkrider St. All proceeds go to the Helton-Osburn-Spencer Scholarship Fund at the University of Central Arkansas.
Morning Movers Class
MAUMELLE — The Morning Movers class is offered from 8:15-9 a.m. Monday through Thursday at the Maumelle Senior Wellness Center, 550 Edgewood Drive, Suite 400. For more information, call (501) 851-4344.
TeamKID
MAUMELLE — Southern Hills Baptist Fellowship and JumpZone have teamed up to offer a free children’s program, TeamKID, for first- through sixth-graders. The program is held at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday at the JumpZone building. For more information, call (501) 851-7729 or visit www.southernhillsbaptist.tv.
Midday Manna
CONWAY — A Bible lecture and luncheon led by Wanda Landers takes place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 4215 Prince St. Lunch, including a drink and dessert, is served for $5. For child care by reservation, call (501) 329-0001.
Tea Party Meeting
HEBER SPRINGS — Arkansas’ We the People Tea Party of Cleburne County meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursdays of every month at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, 1101C W. Main St. Various issues are discussed. For more information, call Marlin Schwartz at (847) 977-5261.
Upcoming
Author Appearance
MORRILTON — Author and screenwriter Jenny Wingfield will give a presentation at 1 p.m. Oct. 8 at the E. Allen Gordon Library of the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. Her book, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, is the 2015 selection for If All Arkansas Read the Same Book. Students and the community are encouraged to attend this free event. Wingfield, a native of Fountain Hill, earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and French at Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia, and taught in the Hope and Ashdown public schools. For more information, contact Rebecka Virden at virden@uaccm.edu or (501) 977-2033.
Southern Living Custom Builder Program Showcase Home
CONWAY — There will be an opening-night kickoff party for the Southern Living Custom Builder Program Showcase Home from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 8. Regular tours of the home will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 9-10 and 13-17; and from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 11. There will be no tours on Oct. 12. Beneficiaries will be the Conway Regional Health Foundation and Operation FINALLY HOME. For more information, call Beth Tyler at (501) 730-5048.
Plumerville Homecoming
PLUMERVILLE — All Plumerville residents, former residents, graduates and former students of the Plumerville School are invited to the 2015 Homecoming Reunion on Oct. 9 and 10. Plumerville Masonic Lodge 253 will host a chili supper at 5 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Plumerville Fire Department. On Oct. 10, the Plumerville Youth Association will serve a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m.; hamburgers, drinks, chips and desserts will be available at noon; pictures and memorabilia will be on display in the Community Room; and the Plumerville High School class of 1965 will be honored. The reunion dinner will begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 in the school gymnasium (Arch Ford Co-op). Tickets may be purchased for $10 at the door or from members of the reunion committee. For more information, call David Garrett at (501) 208-2319 or Bill Plummer at (501) 208-2882.
Second Saturday Bingo
HEBER SPRINGS — Second Saturday Bingo will be held Oct. 10 at St Albert Catholic Church, 21 Park Road. Play will start with Quickfire games at 5:30 p.m. A concession stand will be available, along with homemade desserts. Someone could win $500.
Walk to Remember
CONWAY — Registration is open for the seventh annual Conway Regional Walk to Remember, a free event to help families remember an infant who died before or shortly after birth. The walk will be held Oct. 10 at Conway High School’s John McConnell Football Stadium. Check-in will be at 10 a.m., followed by a remembrance ceremony for babies at 11 a.m., then the walk and a balloon release. In the event of rain, the walk will be held in the Conway High School Cafeteria. Participants may visit www.conwayregional.org/PerinatalBereavementProgram to register, order a walk T-shirt or submit a baby’s name for the ceremony. Tax-deductible donations can be emailed to foundation@conwayregional.org.
Riverview Baptist Fall Festival
OPPELO — Riverview Baptist Christian School will host its 43rd annual Fall Festival on Oct. 10 at the school, 123 Riverview Road. A turkey-and-dressing dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 4:30-7 p.m. in the cafeteria. The cost for the meal is $9 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and $7 for children ages 5-12. Carryout orders will be available. Activities will begin at 6 p.m. and include a silent auction, a cakewalk, a jailhouse, laser tag, a hayride, a treasure hunt, a bounce house, a Pies and More Store and games. There will be a live auction of some special items at 7:45 p.m. Proceeds from the festival will benefit the school. For more information, call the school at (501) 354-0327.
Baked Goods and Craft Sale
VILONIA — Vilonia United Methodist Church will hold its annual baked goods and craft sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10. The sale will feature pies, cookies, bread, small cakes and items decorated for fall. For more information, call Charlotte Lyke at (501) 733-9088.
Heber Springs Dulcimer Day
HEBER SPRINGS — Strings & Things will sponsor a one-day mountain-dulcimer workshop with classes for beginners and intermediate players from 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m. Oct. 10 in the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, 201 N. Fourth St. Lee Cagle will lead the intermediate class, and Wayne Randolph will lead the beginners. There will be a free concert that night at the William Carl Garner Visitor Center, featuring Cagle and local string band Strings & Things. For more information, contact B.J. Stracener at (501) 206-9566 or visit the Heber Springs Dulcimer Day Facebook page.
Oktoberfest
MORRILTON —The Conway County Library, 101 W. Church St., will hold its second annual Oktoberfest at noon Oct. 10. Grilled brats and hot dogs will be available outside the library, as well as a selection of imported nonalcoholic beer to sample. For more information, call the library at (501) 354-5204, visit www2.youseemore.com/conwaycl, or go to the library’s Face Book page.
Leta Stroud Concert
MORRILTON — Award-winning gospel singer Leta Carr Stroud will be in concert at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at Morrilton First Church of the Nazarene, 108 N. Morrill St. Stroud, a native of Center Ridge, is a graduate of Nemo Vista High School and Petit Jean Vo-Tech (now the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton). She is retired from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway. Her appearance is part of the 102nd-year anniversary celebration of the church. Other activities include a Primetimers breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 10 and a potluck lunch following the 10:30 a.m. worship service Oct. 11. The pastor is the Rev. Paul Kirkdoffer. All are invited to all scheduled activities. For more information, call the church at (501) 354-4385.
Church Homecoming Service
PLUMERVILLE — Plumerville United Methodist Church will hold homecoming services at 11 a.m. Oct. 11. The Rev. Dane Womack, a former pastor at Plumerville UMC, will deliver the sermon. A potluck lunch will be served in Plummer Hall following the morning service. The Rev. Bill Ferguson is pastor of the church. All members, former members and friends are invited to attend and celebrate the occasion. For more information, call Bill Plummer at (501) 208-2882.
Retired Teachers Meeting
HEBER SPRINGS — The Cleburne County Retired Teachers Association will meet at noon Oct. 13 at the Rustic Inn. Mary Alice Hughes of Hughes & Associates will speak about retirement and how to avoid retirement mistakes. All retired school personnel are invited to attend. For more information, call Lavern Penn at (501) 206- 0357.
QuickBooks Workshops
RUSSELLVILLE — The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center will present two hands-on workshops for QuickBooks desktop software users on Oct. 15 at Arkansas Tech University. QuickBooks for Beginners, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will include setup, reconciling accounts, working with lists, customers, vendors, assets and liabilities. QuickBooks Day-to-Day Basics, 1:30-4:30 p.m., will cover invoicing, receiving payments, bills, handling sales tax and more. Computers will be provided for use during each session. The cost is $65 per session, and lunch is included for those who attend both workshops. Registration required by Oct 13 by calling (479) 356-2067 or visiting asbtdc.org/training/russellville-events.
Just Desserts Fundraiser
MORRILTON — The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Foundation will hold its 13th annual Just Desserts fundraiser from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in the UACCM Plaza. Tickets are $15 each or $25 per couple. The event includes an all-you-can-eat dessert buffet, wine bar, gourmet-coffee bar, dessert auction, raffle, super raffle and savory snacks. The John Cotton Quartet will provide entertainment. Tickets may be purchased at www.uaccm.edu, from any UACCM Foundation Board member or at the door. For more information, visit the website or contact Mary Clark at (501) 977-2011 or clark@uaccm.edu.
Dance Club Open House
CONWAY — The Conway Rounders Dance Club will hold an open house at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Salem United Methodist Church, 1018 Salem Road. The event will offer an introduction to beginner-level cha-cha. No experience is necessary, and admission is free. Beginner cha-cha lessons will start at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and continue each Thursday through Dec. 17. For more information, visit ConwayRounds.com or call (501) 428-9026.
Spaghetti and Sausage Dinner
ST. VINCENT — The St. Mary’s Altar Society will hold its annual fall spaghetti and sausage dinner from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 17 in the Parish Hall of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The all-you-can-eat dinner costs $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and younger may eat free. Adult takeout dinners will be available. The event includes a bake sale, a country kitchen and a silent auction. The church is 10 miles north of Morrilton on Arkansas 95. For more information, call Francie Gottsponer at (501) 354-4737.
Master Gardeners Open House
CONWAY — All are welcome to meet the Faulkner-Perry County Master Gardeners at their open house, Meet the Masters, at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 at 110 Amity Road. The building has a sign that says “Natural Resource Center.” The speaker will be Janet Carson. Attendees will learn how to become a Master Gardener. For more information, call the Faulkner County Extension Office at (501) 329-8344.
Stylin’ on the River
HEBER SPRINGS— The Baptist Health Medical Center-Heber Springs Auxiliary will present its 15th annual style show and luncheon, Stylin’ on the River, at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 30 in the First United Methodist Church-Heber Springs Family Life Center, 1099 W. Pine St. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased from auxiliary members or at the hospital. For more information, call (501) 887-3284.
Halloween Events at the Library
MORRILTON — The Conway County Library, 101 W. Church St., will participate in Monsters on Main Street on Oct. 31. Members of the Teen Advisory Group will give out candy to community kids. Monsters on Main Street will be followed by another big teen movie night. For more information, call the library at (501) 354-5204, visit www2.youseemore.com/conwaycl, or go to the library’s Face Book page.
Fall Bazaar
MAYFLOWER — The Mayflower United Methodist Women will hold their Fall Bazaar at 7 a.m. Nov. 7. The event will feature a variety of handmade fried pies for $1 each. Copies of the group’s cookbook Feeding the Flock will be sold for $10 each. The bazaar will include a variety of home-baked items; jams and jellies; and home-preserved pickles, as well as gently used toys, books, collectibles and other items. Proceeds from the event will fund local mission projects. The church is at the corner of Miller (Arkansas 89) and Grove streets. For more information, call UMW President Carol Bales at (501) 529-2330 or the Rev. Rick Wilkins at (501) 442-5045.
Christmas Parade
RUSSELLVILLE — The 2015 Russellville Christmas Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3. The theme will be “Christmas Movies.” Required parade entry forms are available at the Recreation and Parks Department office, 1000 E. Parkway, and online at www.russellvillearkansas.org. The entry fee is $25 for a float, and $100 for a commercial entry other than a float. The deadline to enter is noon Nov. 30. The parade’s rainout date will be Dec. 7. For more information, call the Recreation and Parks Department at (479) 968-1272.
To submit an item for the Calendar of Events, mail information to Calendar of Events, River Valley & Ozark Edition, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, AR 72203; fax to (501) 378-3500; or email to rvonews@arkansasonline.com. Deadlines for calendar-item submissions are noon Friday for Thursday editions and noon Tuesday for Sunday editions.